Wasaga Beach Climate Action Team

December 2022 Newsletter

As we wrap up 2022 and move on into 2023, I am very grateful for many things.  Mostly for the hard-working members of the Climate Action Team that continue to bring climate change awareness to the community. It would not have been possible to make so much progress this year without these passionate caring people.
I am grateful for..

• Our partnership with rainbarrel.ca where we kicked off the year by distributing 100 rain barrels into the community thereby saving thousands of gallons of water;
• Our collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce which saw us launch our green certificate program which culminated in 14 businesses in the community receiving the certificate at the chamber award ceremonies;
• The amazing support from the local media:  Wasaga Sun and Simcoe.com who have regularly published our thoughts and activities to the wider community;
• Beach BOOSTER which gave us the opportunity to write an article in every edition;
• TVO which sought our input and wrote a scary but inspiring article (https://www.tvo.org/article/its-2050-heres-what-a-day-at-wasaga-beach-could-look-like);
• 95.1 and 97.7 which have given us airtime and CFRH which helped us reach the French community;
• the many organizations that have given us a platform to speak about our concerns and solutions for the changing climate:  the Probus clubs, the Library, the Wasaga Business Association, the Women’s Business Association;
• the town councilors for voting in favour of a motion to declare a climate emergency;
• the Director of Building, Danny Rodgers, for taking the lead for Climate Action within the town Council and staff;
• our partnership with Georgian Bay Forever with the installation of 300 washing machine filters, thereby reducing the amount of microplastics going into Georgian bay along with the Plastic Free Georgian Bay initiative;
• being engaged with the youth from the local schools to plant trees;
• the opportunity to engage with the community at the Lion’s Home and Garden show, the Seniors Expo, and the farmers market;
• the team’s hard work at bringing climate action onto the platforms of the candidates for the provincial election (unsuccessful outcome) and the candidates for the Municipal election (successful outcome) and their continued fight against Bill 23.

So much has been done; so much more to do.
Meanwhile, have a wonderful Holiday Season.

 Kathleen Caswell

BILL 23 “Build more houses faster”
Bill 23 is an attack on democracy, removing power from Municipalities, Conservation Authorities and Communities, without addressing the real Affordablle Housing issue.
REPEAL BILL 23On Nov 26, WBCAT coordinated a Rally to STOP BILL 23 in Stayner, in partnership with Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition, Collingwood Climate Action Team, The Blue Mountain Climate Network, and Escarpment Corridor Alliance, with over 200 protesters, the most attended rally in the County.

visit WBCAT website here